Sleeping-car.



PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904. P. SYNNESTVBDT.

SLEEPING GAR..

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 2v, 1-902.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PAUL SYNNESTVEDT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SLEEPING-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,507, dated August 16, 1904.

Application filed October 27, 1902. Serial No. 128,941. (No model.)

To al w/wm t may concern."

Be it known that I, PAUL SYNNEsTvEDT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sleeping-Cars, of whichthe following,

taken together with the accompanying draw'-V ings, is a specification.

My invention has for its object to increase the comfort and facility of access to the bunk in a sleeping' car, and particularly the upper berth thereof, in the type of car which has ranged along its sides a series of bunks placed in pairs, one above another, the upper berth being' usually closed up duringA the day time in order that the lower bunk may be transformed into a pair of seats. Further objects of my invention are, to provide improved means for entering'the upper berth from the end thereof, to provide room for conveniently dressing, and other advantages which will hereinafter appear.

I have illustrated my invention in preferred form as applied to the common American type of sleeping car at present in use. In the illustrative drawings thereof, forming part of this specification, I have shown in Figure l, half of a cross-section of such a car taken on line (l) of Figure 2, the-back'of the seat being removed in order to show the steps and dressing platform. Figure 2 is a partial inside view of the car, showing one of the sections complete, but with the front curtain and its rod r of Figure l removed.

In these drawings it will be understood that 3 represents the floor of a car, 4 the side, 5 the roof, and 6 the seats, all as arranged in the ordinary construction exceptV that the seats 6 are placed in pairs throughout the car, of which every alternate pair are set close back to back and every other pair are separated by a space, say of about two feet. In

thisspace or vestibule between the separated seats are placed longitudinally of the car two steps, 14, and a locker 16, Whose top 15, forms a dressing platform. This platform, having the two steps ascending to it, is high enough above the floor to render the upper berths easily accessible without any assistance.` v

The separating partition placed between the two seats that are close together, is of the usual construction; and so also is the frame of the upper berth 8, which is hinged and suspended by chain 9, passing over a pulley 10, and wound upon a housed pulley l-l. rI`he curtains in front of the sections` will be as ordinary, except that they may be divided over the space occupied by the platform and steps, 14, l5.

It will be seen that two of the upper berths open upon the vestibule above the platform,

and these are each provided with a Y lower board partition 7, and with an end curtain 13.

It will be seen that in an ordinary sleeping car, such as are common at the present time in America, there are at most siX sections on a side, and that therefore it will be necessary to provide but three of these entrance vestibules on each side, altogether taking up, say six feet. The locker 16, and also the steps in this vestibule, ma)7 be utilized for the storage of baggage. It will be evident that in my device there is provided standing room for dressing and undressing, quite uninterrupted by passers through the aisle, and that the upper berth is by this means made as easy of access as the lower berth, besides having other apparent advantages. At the present time there are so many disadvantages to the upper berth that it is the rule with sleeping cars that they travel with only the lower berths full. The great advantages of my device will be apparent from this circumstance, since the upper berths can be made even more desirable than the lower.

Having thus described my invention, I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

l. 1n a sleeping car a dressing platform and steps leading thereto from the aisle of the car.

2. In a sleeping car having` berths placed lengthwise of the car, a vestibule and steps between the berths, by means of which entry may be had into the ends of the berth.

3. In a sleeping car a dressingl platform be- 5. In a sleeping car in combination, a plurality of berths suspended by chains running over pulleys with adjacent ends of the berths opening under the chains on to a dressing` platform arranged in the vestibule and steps forming an approach to the platform.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL SYNNESTVEDT.

Witnesses:

F. W. H. CLAY, CHAS. H. EBERT. 

